Big Lot Q4 profit rises; opening 90 stores in 2012

By Marianne Wilson

Columbus, Ohio -- Big Lots’ fourth-quarter net income rose 4% to $114.7 million for the period ended Jan. 28, up from $110.1 million a year earlier. The chain also said it anticipates 90 new store openings in the United States in 2012.

Sales for U.S. operations increased 7.5% to $1.63 billion. In Canada, which includes results from Liquidation World that was acquired in July, sales were $36.6 million. Same-store sales in the United States were up 3.4%.

For the year, Big Lots earned $207.1 million, compared with $222.5 million in the previous year.

Annual revenue rose 5% to $5.2 billion, from $4.95 billion.

Big Lots operated 1,451 stores in 48 states and 82 Liquidation World and LW stores in Canada as of Jan. 28.